Kentridge recharges, zaps Kentwood for third place | State 4A baseball

By Trevor Williams
For the Kent Reporter

The only predictable piece of the 4A consolation game at GESA Stadium in Pasco on Saturday was that the team destined to take home the third-place trophy would have “Kent” in its name.

Whether that honor would belong to Kentridge or Kentwood, however, was unclear until the final out.

Kentridge, a surprising junior-filled team that crashed the final four party, jolted rival Kentwood, the defending state champion, 4-3 to come up bronze at the state showcase.

It was the Chargers’ first win in three games against the heralded Conquerors this season. Both South Puget Sound League teams dropped their semifinal games on Friday. Kentridge was reeling from a stinging 10-0 loss to eventual state champion Skyview.

“We had a great win against a great program,” said Kentridge coach John Flanigan. “Those guys do things the right way all the time.”

Sam Dacus took the win in a pitchers’ duel with the Conks’ Kade Kryzsko. Dacus went the distance, allowing six hits and three runs, two of which were earned. He walked three and struck out one.

Kryzsko allowed nine hits and struck out five in seven innings.

Kentwood claimed an early lead in the first inning, thanks to an RBI single to center by Tanner Wessling. Kentridge then tied things up in the top half of the second on an RBI double courtesy of Joel Condreay. The score would remain deadlocked in the third following one-two-three innings by Dacus and Kryzsko.

Kentridge broke the 1-1 tie in the fourth. Isaiah Terry and Condreay singled. Travis McGuire then drove in both runners with a strong RBI double off the base of the wall in left field.

Kentwood answered with a Kellen Wilson sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the inning, but Kyle Kenney was caught in a rundown at second base after attempting to tag to third on the play.

The 3-2 score held over the next two innings as Kryzsko and Dacus allowed just two hits to opposing batters.

Late-game drama

The stage was set for an intense seventh inning in which Kentridge first basemen Joe Wainhouse scorched a line drive into the right-field gap for an RBI triple. Kryzsko then forced Zach Beatty to pop out to Jake Elzinga at first, followed by a strikeout. Wainhouse attempted to score on the strikeout when catcher Reese McGuire and third basemen Kellen Wilson could not connect on a pickoff. However, Wilson regained control of the ball and fired it back to McGuire for a close 2-5-2 double play at the plate. The out ended the top half of the inning.

Kentwood had something brewing in the bottom half of the seventh after Wilson walked and Kramer Sims singled to right. Spencer Greene then sacrificed both runners into scoring position with one out. Mike Ciancio followed Greene’s sacrifice with a sacrifice of his own on a fly ball to left field. Wilson scored on the play and with two outs, Kentwood still had a runner in scoring position at second. The threat was erased by Dacus after he forced Wessling into a fly out to center field to end the game.

Kentridge’s performance in game two of the tournament was much improved over their opening-round loss to Skyview. The Chargers had more hits in two innings than they had in the entire previous game against Skyview.

Leadoff hitter Andrew Barrera chipped in with three hits of his own.

“After struggling for the last couple games, leading things off like that just gives us energy and keeps us going,” Barrera said.

Wainhouse, who contributed a key RBI triple to the Chargers’ line said, “That was the first at-bat where I had a chance to really wait on a pitch. I’ve had a few triples this year. That’s what can happen.”

The major contributors offensively and defensively for Kentridge on Saturday were juniors, like Condreay who had two hits and an RBI.

“Beating Kentwood will always be a good memory for us. We don’t get to do that a lot,” Condreay said. “It’s a great way for us to build toward next year.”

Terry, another junior, went 2-2 and scored twice for Kentridge. Condreay, Wainhouse and Dacus are also members of the Chargers’ junior arsenal.

“This game definitely helps us build toward next year. However, we also can’t dismiss the seniors we did have and the great leadership they provided for us,” Flanigan said. “Those juniors make a lot of good plays but they have to talk to those older kids and gain the leadership qualities those guys had that really got us here.”

For Kentwood, senior leadership was also important to the younger players and coaching staff. The young team included five seniors. Reese McGuire, Wessling, Wilson, Kyle Kenney and Elzinga all played their final games for Kentwood on Saturday.

“All of the seniors experienced a state championship last year, whether they were playing or not,” coach Mark Zender said. “They then brought to every practice and game that experience and expectation of winning. They taught the young players on this team how to prepare and approach the game. That is a legacy they leave.”

Ciancio, who was moved from first base to left field to accommodate lineup changes for the seniors, had a solid tournament.

“The seniors on this team always kept me loose and comfortable. During practice they also helped us keep focused and made us work hard,” Ciancio said. “They provided a lot of help to our team.”

Ciancio went 3-4 over the weekend and was hit by two pitches. He also earned a medallion for displaying superb sportsmanship on Friday against South Kitsap.

“Our goal is that we are a program, not just a good team,” Zender said. “The goal is to get to the semifinals and knock on the door every year. When the older guys help teach our younger guys the proper approach and you have younger guys, like Mike, who take the proper approach, it will allow us to keep our program at the top of the state, in terms of consistency, and that’s what we’re looking for.”

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Kentridge 4, Kentwood 3

Kentridge  010 200 1 – 4 9 1
Kentwood  100 100 1 – 3 6 1

Notes
Offensive:

KR – Andrew Barrera 3-4, 1R. Joe Wainhouse 1-4, 1RBI. Isaiah Terry 2-2, 2R. Joel Condreay 2-3, 1R, 1RBI. Travis McGuire 1-3, 2RBI

KW- Mike Ciancio 1-2, 1RBI. Kade Kryzsco, 1-3, 1R. Kellen Wilson 1RBI. Reese McGuire 1R.

Pitching:

KW – Kade Kryzsko 7IP, 9H, 4R (all earned), 5K.

KR – Sam Dacus 7IP, 6H, 3R (2 earned), 3BB, 1K.